Our Favorite Photo Locations Around Tallahassee
Our Favorite Photo Locations Around Tallahassee
Our Favorite Photo Locations Around Tallahassee
Craft Creek Photography is a Tallahassee photography company with a studio by appointment at 3110 Shamrock Street North. We also love photographing on location, and these are the spots we return to again and again. Travel is free within 10 miles of the studio and $2.50 per mile round-trip beyond, and a few venues carry their own additional costs. See our guide to the best photo spots in Tallahassee.
Lichgate on High Road
Best for: Engagements, proposals and couples
One enormous, sprawling live oak stands in a grassy clearing ringed by tall pines. The mood is quiet and a little dramatic, with deep greens and earthy browns, and the tree is big enough to frame a couple from far away or close in.
Small site, so sessions stay simple and intimate. Late afternoon light filters softly through the pines.
Maclay Gardens
Best for: Maternity, engagements and families
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park pairs formal, clipped hedges and arches with a long reflecting pool, brick paths and moss-draped oaks, plus open views of the lake. It feels classic and polished, especially for flowing gowns.
A Florida state park with a park entrance fee; photography permit rules are set by the park. Garden bloom changes through the year.
Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Best for: Engagements, formal family portraits and bridal
Huge live oaks hung with Spanish moss, a white-columned historic house, red brick walks and manicured lawns give Goodwood a timeless Southern look. It suits sessions that lean classic and elegant.
A historic museum property; photography policies and any fees are set by the museum and should be confirmed before booking.
Dorothy B. Oven Park
Best for: Families, teens and seniors
A compact, lush park with wooden and red footbridges, a brick-floored gazebo, stone walls, boulders, a lawn and a pond edge. Lots of different backdrops sit a short walk apart, which keeps little ones and busy teens happy.
Easy, walkable layout. A good choice when you want variety without moving the car.
Millers Landing
Best for: Families, maternity, engagements, couples and sunset portraits
Millers Landing Road winds past the woods and trails of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, runs under a canopy of mossy live oaks and ends at the Lake Jackson shoreline. It’s one location with plenty of different scenery, so a single session can move from shady woodland paths to glowing sunset light over the water.
Plan for the hour before sunset so we can finish at the water as the light turns golden.
Tom Brown Park & Alford Greenway
Best for: Maternity, babies and families
A covered wooden footbridge, green trail corridors, a lakeside boardwalk and a tall-grass meadow give this pair of connected parks plenty of range. The covered bridge makes a beautiful, symmetrical frame for maternity and baby portraits.
Larger area, so we plan a short route in advance. Morning light is soft on the bridge.
Rose Hill
Best for: Families and kids
A long drive tunneled by old oaks, edged with white wooden fences, pasture and woods. The light stays soft and shaded, and the open avenue gives families room to walk, play and be themselves.
Shade makes this a comfortable choice on warmer days.
Pebble Hill Plantation
Thomasville, Georgia, near Tallahassee
Best for: Engagements, weddings and formal portraits
A grand white house, formal brick-edged gardens, clipped hedges and moss-hung oaks make Pebble Hill one of the most stately settings in the region, about a drive north of Tallahassee.
Additional costs apply: travel time, plus Pebble Hill charges its own photography fee.
Wacissa River
Best for: Adventurous couples and editorial sessions
Dark, mirror-still water, cypress trees and hanging moss give the Wacissa a wild, moody beauty unlike anywhere else on this list. Think canoes, reflections and a little bit of adventure.
Additional costs apply: travel time, plus kayak or canoe rentals. This is more of a production, so we plan it together well ahead.
How to Choose Your Location
- Start with the feeling. Grand oaks and gardens feel classic; lakes and rivers feel open and golden; bridges and trails feel relaxed and natural.
- Think about who is coming. Little ones do best at compact spots like Dorothy B. Oven Park or Rose Hill, where everything is a short walk away.
- Match the light. Lakeshores like Millers Landing shine at sunset; shaded spots are kinder on hot days and at midday.
- Keep it easy. Closer locations mean less travel and more time photographing. Farther spots like Pebble Hill and the Wacissa River are worth it for the right session, with additional costs.
- Not sure? Tell us about your session and we will suggest a spot or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best places for photos in Tallahassee?
Craft Creek Photography’s favorite Tallahassee photo locations include Lichgate on High Road, Maclay Gardens, Goodwood Museum & Gardens, Dorothy B. Oven Park, Millers Landing, Tom Brown Park and the Alford Greenway, and Rose Hill. Pebble Hill Plantation and the Wacissa River are farther-out options with additional costs. The best choice depends on your session and the look you love.
Where can I take graduation photos in Tallahassee besides campus?
Craft Creek Photography photographs graduates at spots like Dorothy B. Oven Park, Millers Landing, Maclay Gardens, and Tom Brown Park and the Alford Greenway. These offer bridges, oak-lined paths, gardens and lakeshores without campus crowds. High school graduation sessions can also take place at the student’s own school.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to take photos at Maclay Gardens or Pebble Hill?
Some locations have their own fees. Pebble Hill Plantation charges a photography fee, so sessions there carry additional costs. Maclay Gardens is a Florida state park with a park entrance fee, and any permit rules are set by the park. Craft Creek Photography confirms current requirements with each location while planning your session.
What is the best time of day for outdoor photos in Tallahassee?
Craft Creek Photography recommends soft early-morning light or the hour before sunset for most outdoor sessions. For graduation sessions, we recommend starting about 10 minutes after sunrise, when the light is gentle, temperatures are cooler, and popular spots are quiet. The best time also depends on the location you choose.
Can you suggest a location for my session?
Yes. Craft Creek Photography helps every client choose a location. Share your session type, the look you like, who is coming and any mobility needs, and our photographer will suggest one or two spots that fit, along with the best time of day to shoot there. You are also welcome to suggest a place of your own.
Is there a travel fee for photo locations outside Tallahassee?
Craft Creek Photography travels free within 10 miles of its studio at 3110 Shamrock Street North in Tallahassee. Beyond 10 miles, travel is $2.50 per mile round-trip. Pebble Hill Plantation and the Wacissa River also carry additional costs, such as travel time, a photography fee, or kayak and canoe rentals.
Plan Your Session
Have a location in mind, or want help choosing one? Email cole@craftcreekphotography.com or call or text 850.544.3336.
Get in Touch
850.544.3336 | cole@craftcreekphotography.com
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